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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
 APHA 2005
 
5182.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 3:15 PM

Abstract #119783

Development and implementation of an oral cancer prevention and early detection program for dental students

Gabrielle F. Cannick, BS, Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology, College of Graduate Studies; College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, P.O. Box 250507, Charleston, SC 29425, (843) 573-8891, fergusg@musc.edu

Background: Few studies have examined the relation between oral cancer (OC) education and the OC skills of dental students. South Carolina (SC) has the fourth highest OC mortality rate in the nation, and tobacco use rates that are higher than the national average. A randomized pretest/posttest controlled study is proposed to examine the association between OC education and the OC prevention and early detection skills among pre-clinical dental students enrolled at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Methods: This study will follow the PRECEDE-PROCEED model to assess the hypothesis that a specific form of OC education improves OC skills in dental students when compared with standard instruction in OC prevention and early detection. Competency in OC examination and tobacco cessation counseling will be determined by an Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Measurements of OC knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) will be obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. The intervention and control groups will be compared for change in competency scores and KAP before and after the intervention. SAS will be used for all analyses. Results: Data from the initial evaluation of the OC prevention and early detection program will be presented. A preliminary study indicates that although SC dental students improve in OC prevention and detection skills as they progress through dental school, additional emphasis should be placed on these issues in the curricula. Conclusions: Results of this study can determine the effectiveness of specific education on OC prevention and early detection skills for dental students.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the conclusion of this presentation, the learner will be able to

    Keywords: Oral Health, Education

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:

    I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

    The State of Oral Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

    The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA